Tennessee GOP Challengers Struggle

By

Reid Epstein

Updated July 18, 2014 10:58 p.m. ET

To beat Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, Republican primary challengers Joe Carr and George Flinn both say they could use help from the conservative groups that propelled insurgent GOP challengers elsewhere.

But as early voting in the GOP primary began Friday, no cavalry is coming to help Mr. Carr or Mr. Flinn. The outside money has largely stayed home.

On paper, Mr. Alexander may seem ripe for a strong primary challenge. The...